Pin of the day: Flamingoooos

Lately I've developed quite a taste for exotic/colourful birds.  About a month ago I went on a family day out to this place with a farm and there were all these beautiful birds.  There were loads of tiny little brightly coloured ones and some huge peacocks and the most beautiful bird I've ever seen; a golden pheasant.  He was the daddy!  But my real favourite birds are flamingos.  They're so pretty.  So so pretty.

I've been looking for inspiration to design some homeware products but I was coming up blank.  Like artists block.  And then I thought flamingos!  Who doesn't love a big pink bird.  That doesn't sound rude does it?  I've seen so many owls around the past few years, I even have a little owly friend Olive (she's a cushion) and I'm thinking its time some other birds shared the limelight.  So I'm gonna see my birdy inclined friend this weekend and see if she has any birdy books for me to steal cause sometimes having the real life picture in your hands is better than endlessly browsing the internet.  So hopefully I'll be blogging about my ideas and products soon!  I feel like its taking ages getting started; testing materials and whatnot.  Slow goings make me grumpy.  Gotta keep on guzzling that coffee.

Pin of the day: keepsakes

I pinned this a while ago and just re-found it.  I love the idea because I have sooooo many empty graze boxes that I just couldn't throw away and didn't have a use for and here is the perfect solution to my hoarding problem!

I believe this is a Martha Stewart idea/image (please correct me if I'm wrong).  It is such a cute idea, especially since I tend to keep strange souvenirs in random places and these do what they say on the tin!  The boxes can be personalised with patterns and colours to suit your - ever changing - home.  If I saw these in someones house you bet I'd be raking through them in minutes!

Project typewriter

I have finally finished restoring my typewriter!  Well restoring may be the wrong word as I have gone for a more worn look for it but I still think it looks prettier than when I got it.  Unfortunately I wasn't forward thinking enough to take before and during pictures but I do have plenty of after photographs.  

I am currently selling this in my etsy shop here

This typewriter started life as a bland beige, so very sad to look upon.  Now it has attitude and demands center stage!

I used pink enamel paint all over the body and sanded it to a worn, matte look.  I left the keys and base the original grey colour and I think the colours go well together.

It is missing the guiding ruler which is unfortunate but it doesn't detract from the beauty of the typewriter.

And unfortunately I don't have a users manual although I have searched high and low for one.

I have cleaned and oiled the innards and will supply a new ribbon.  The finicky cleaning was actually my favourite part of this project.

What do you think?  It was a love/hate project but I powered through and I adore the result.

Pin of the day: books always

I have to say, when I'm scouring pinterest my interest is instantly peaked when I see a room full of books.  I think books are a must accessory in every room, every time, every day.  Can you honestly pick a room in your home that would not be improved by a lovely book cause I really really can't.  I have books coming out of my eyeballs.  I have books I bought and never read.  I have books I never even intend to read.  I even have books I only bought so I could cut them up and turn them into new books.

So to show my commitment, love, desire for books I bring you this lovely bedroom full to bursting with books.

It doesn't hurt that it's a fantastic room anyway.  I particularly love the throw, mirror and sneaky Hundi lamp.  I must blog about my love of throws soon, another item you can't have enough of.

Bedding lust

In all the hours and hours I've spent trawling the internet for cute products I have never found a bedding collection that quite compares to that on Deny Designs.  If you've never been to their website I urge you to go look now!  Or stay tuned for a few of my favourite picks.  And if it wasn't for my pitiful student funds and the large customs bill I would incur, I would totally be swimming in their products right now.  Feast your eyes on these. . .

Seattle - Anderson Design Group

Mandala Paisley - Belle13

Completely Incomplete - Bianca Green

Elephant 1 - Casey Rogers

Flamingo 1 - Casey Rogers

Giraffe colour  - Casey Rogers

Waves - Gabi

Wipil 3 - Kris Tate

Colour My World - Rosie Brown

Lunchtime - Rose Brown

There's such a variety and it's so nice to see refreshing designs that aren't just different variations of floral.  The other products ain't half bad either.

Pin of the day: beach

Its one of those rare days in the north east where it's sunny and hot.  Unfortunately I'm one of those people who likes to admire the sunshine from the shade cause as soon as I step out into that sun I feel like I'm walking into the burning fires of hell.  Aka I'm too pale to really handle it.  But I also have the advantage of living near a lovely, popular beach.  So once it gets a little cooler I'll be venturing down to the beach with a friend to see a band at the amphitheater   And for todays pins I have went for a beachy theme.

Those stripes are fun and summery.  I want to live in those stripes!

Doesn't this just look perfect?

I couldn't resist throwing in a bit of driftwood.  I've just been to a great local shop where they sell a variety of reclaimed and upcycled furniture, and in amongst all the goodies were some truly lovely driftwood bowls and the nicest driftwood table and chairs I've ever seen.  Unfortunately I didn't have the good sense to take my camera with me but trust me when I say they're gorgeous.

I'd love to find a piece of driftwood and incorporate it into an interior like this.  As a rail to hang special clothing on or pictures.

Have you ever typed 'beach' into the search in pinterest?  Some odd pins come up and unsurprisingly a lot of bums.

Amazing interior: fleischerei bar

Have you seen this?

image © photographiedepot

Michael Grzesiak has turned this 100 year old butchers shop into a stylin' bar.  Just look at it!  

image © photographiedepot

Keeping most of the original tiles and features was a fantastic choice, they bring so much character to the space.  The addition of the huge ash bar really modernises the interior.  I for one would visit just to touch that beautiful bar.

image © thezimmer

It may be hard for some to remember that this was in fact a butchers shop but the original colour palette and tiles are wonderful and would have been sorely missed in this interior.

View more images here.